The #F1 Bar Exam: 27th November 2014

Last week’s question(s): Can you name the driver, team, race and track where the photo was taken. Can you also name the car (type) and where the driver finished in the race?

The 1961 British Grand Prix was held on the 15th July at the Aintree Circuit which ran within the famous horse racing course used for the Grand National. It was dubbed the ‘Goodwood of the North’ and had witnessed the first ever British Grand Prix victory by a British driver in 1955 when Stirling Moss held off his team-mate Juan Manuel Fangio to take victory. Further races were run in 1957, 59, 61 and 1962 before the event transferred to Brands Hatch and Silverstone.

The weekend had proven a washout with poor weather affecting the qualifying and race start. Unlike recent years, Ferrari dominated the race and took all three podium positions with the race being won by Wolfgang von Trips, followed by Phil Hill and Richie Ginther. This would be von Trips last victory as two races later he tangled with Jim Clark’s Lotus and was launched into an accident that proved fatal.Phil Hill, the runner up on this occasion, would go on to secure his only World Championship driving the iconic sharknosed Ferrari 156.Local hero, Moss had started in 5th position in his Lotus but had suffered brake failure on lap 44 and took over the experimental Ferguson P99-Climax that had been entered by Rob Walker Racing. The car was significant not simply because it was the first occasion that a four-wheel drive car had been used inan F1 event but it was also the last time a front-engined car competed at a World Championship event.

Its run didn’t last, Moss was disqualified on lap 56 for receiving outside assistance on the track and he retired from what would be his last Grand Prix on home soil.

The answer(s) I was looking for were: The driver in the photo is British driver Keith Greene driving the Gilby Engineering Gilby 1961 Climax L4 during the 1961 British Grand Prix that was held at Aintree. Greene qualified 23rd and finished the race in 15th, albeit 6 laps down on the winner Wolfgang Von Trips.

Well done Cassius42, Mike K, Johnny, Milestone11 and Mike B.

This week’s question(s): Can you name the driver, team, race and track where the photo was taken. Can you also name the car (type) and where the driver finished in the race?